World Jewry Committee
WorldJewry@harshalom.org Contact Us: 301-299-7087, Ext. 311
The World Jewry Committee offers the congregation a variety of learning experiences, opportunities for advocacy, and other activities to affirm the solidarity of the Jewish people within our Greater Washington Jewish community and worldwide, with a particular focus on the people and State of Israel. As part of our efforts, the committee presents a variety of congregational and community educational meetings, discussion groups, and artistic and cultural programs. We offer congregation members opportunities to see the diversity that is worldwide Jewry and encourage active participation, as individuals and as a congregation, in efforts that strengthen links between Jews the world over. We also work to fight against all efforts that seek, in any way, to discriminate against full and active participation by the State of Israel in international activities.
Recent World Jewry Committee speakers have included Gregg Rickman, the U.S. State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, who spoke on recent administration efforts to implement the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004; and the Ambassador from Grenada to the U.S., the Honorable Dr. Denis G. Antoine, who spoke on why Grenada votes against anti-Israel resolutions in the U.N. General Assembly.
The World Jewry Committee also sponsored the Kosher Wine Tasting Program in March and the Yom HaZikaon / Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel Memorial Day/ Independence Day) program held in April, with readings, prayers and candle-lighting marking our remembrance and dancing, singing and food marking our celebration.
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| JCRC President and Har Shalom member Ron Glancz, Rabbi Neil Zuckerman, CHS Senior Rabbi; Yvonne Paretzky, WJC Chair; Michelle Tow, Sisterhood WJC Chair; CHS member | Ron Halber, Executive Director, JCRC of Greater Washington | Marc Mayerson, CHS President, Rabbi Neil Zuckerman, CHS Senior Rabbi |
On September 24, 2009, about two dozen Har Shalom members and Rabbi Zuckerman gathered at Farragut Square Park, in downtown DC, to show support for passage of The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (H.R. 2194 and S.908), which would limit Iran's ability to import and produce refined petroleum products. The Har Shalom contingent was the largest of any from area synagogues. Some hopped on Metro with Rabbi Zuckerman. Some walked over from nearby offices. Others came from Capital Hill. The DC rally, organized by The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington was one of similar rallies held across the country that day. DC rally speakers included Sen. Ben Cardin, Rep. Steven King, Ron Glancz, JCRC president and Har Shalom member; Ron Halber, Executive Director of JCRC of Greater Washington, and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett.
Global Report on Anti-Semitism: Congregants may recall a little over one year ago, when Gregg J. Rickman, the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, spoke at Har Shalom, informing us of the responsibility of his office. A major responsibility of that office is to issue periodic reports on the scope and nature of anti-Semitism worldwide. The latest report of that office, “Contemporary Global ANTI-SEMITISM: A Report Provided to the United States Congress,” was released earlier this month and is available for viewing at Anti-Semitism Report.
New Report on Anti-Semitism in Argentina
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has just made available a recent report on Anti-Semitism in Argentina, prepared by the Argentine Jewish Associations Delegation (DAIA) and its Center for Social Studies (CES). DAIA is the representative organization for Argentina’s Jewish Community. It has local offices in each of the Argentinean Provinces where there is a Jewish community. DAIA’s objectives are to defend the dignity of Argentinean Judaism, fighting against any act inspired by Anti-Semitism and Nazi ideas; struggle against anti-Semitism, ethnic, social or religious discrimination and xenophobia. It also fights against the permanent threat of terrorism.A summary of the report as well as the complete document (in English) can be found on the ADL website
The Mercaz USA September (Sukkot) Web Newsletter offers an interesting feature story, “The View from Jerusalem," with 10 concrete actions we can take to strengthen our ties with Israel and Jerusalem. Click here for details.
The View From Jerusalem -- The Mercaz USA September (Sukkot) Web Newsletter offers an interesting feature story, “The View from Jerusalem," with 10 concrete actions we can take to strengthen our ties with Israel and Jerusalem. Click here.
Save the Date, Sunday, May 2, 2010, for the Community Israel Celebration. (More information will be provided as we get closer to the date.)
